The Launguage of the Rohirrim

[Firawyn]

Um..I'm interested in learning the Launguage of the Rohirrim but the only reference I can find is "The Languages of Tolkien's Middle Earth" by Ruth S. Noel. And that only has one chapter in it about it. Help....

 

[Jotun]

I don't think Tolkien ever wrote an actualy Rohirrim language down...

 

[Firawyn]

That would explain why I cant find anything...bummer.

I wonder if Tolkien intended to, and just never finished...

 

[Elthir]

There are some words in Appendix F like trahan and kastu for examples ... a few more appear in The Peoples of Middle-Earth (from The History of Middle-Earth).

Galin

 

[Elorendil]

Rohirric is actually an already existing language. Instead of creating a whole new language, Tolkien used Old English. I'm not sure why, he was obviously good at making up new languages... Perhaps he wanted to dedicate his time to Sindarin and Quenya?

A quick warning about "The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth". It contains several innacuracies and isn't the best way to learn any of the languages. Even the pronunciation guide has an error in it! I know that a few of the translations are also incorrect, although I don't remember which ones, off the top of my head. It is part of my Tolkien library, but I seldom use it anymore.

 

[scotsboyuk]

The Rohirrim were largely based upon the Anglo-Saxons hence the use of Olde English. Having said that, Anglo-Saxon England was something of an eclectic mixture of languges e.g. Olde English, Norse, the Celtic languages of the ancient Britons and Olde French.

The most similar language to Olde English, which is still in use today, is Icelandic.

 

[Annaheru]

try http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/ (Ardalambion), he has stuff on most of Tolkien's languages, and knows what he's talking about